December 11, 2003


Fire suspects appear in court while Pioneer moves to rebuild

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Less than two weeks after a devastating fire ripped through the Performing Arts Center at Pioneer High School, faculty, students and parents have begun the task of rebuilding what they have spent the past several years putting together.

Two days after the fire gave way to the water soaked remains of the building that housed the school’s radio station, stage, drama and choir departments, cafeteria and teacher’s lounge, two suspects were arrested in connection with setting the blaze.

Eighteen-year-old Pioneer High student Marco Horta Flores was arraigned in a San Jose courtroom on Dec. 4, accused of starting the fire that caused more than $1 million in damage to the school. Several of his family members attended his hearing, but they declined to comment.

Although he allegedly confessed to the crime, Flores did not enter a plea and was being held on $50,000 bail until a judge ordered him released on his own recognizance during a hearing on Wednesday. He went home with his family and is expected to return to court in January once the investigation report has been completed. Flores faces a single count of felony arson to a structure, which could land him in prison for up to nine years or longer if lawyers prove the damage exceeded $1 million.

According to Flores’ attorney Mark Arnold, his client was not happy in jail and is glad to be out. “He was extremely remorseful and upset about his behavior,” Arnold said. “No one believes it was a purposeful act.”

A second male suspect, 17, appeared in juvenile court on Friday, submitting a petition consistent with a guilty plea. He will remain in custody with juvenile authorities until a dispositional hearing in January. According to District Attorney Mark Buller, he faces the full gamut of juvenile sanctions, including a boys’ ranch, juvenile hall or private institutional placement, followed by probation of up to two years.

According to investigators, Flores and his alleged accomplice say they regret setting the fire and fleeing when it spread out of control, realizing that it was a “dumb thing to do.” Investigators don't believe this to be a copycat crime or related in any way to the other suspicious school fires that have been set recently.

Meanwhile, police and fire departments stepped up patrols in an effort to deter additional arson attempts at San Jose Unified schools. According to spokesperson Karen Fuqua, the school district will extend maintenance worker hours at all schools to include evenings and weekends as well.

The community reaches out
As faculty, students and families forge ahead with the rebuilding process, the community is stepping in to help on all fronts. KMTG, the school’s radio station, may be back on the air sooner than anticipated, thanks in part to Dave Morey at KFOG, who donated a 200 CD player last week.

According to drama teacher Steve Dini, parents have spearheaded a grass roots fund-raising effort to “bring back the PAC” by selling $5 angel pins.

A friend of Pioneer has also stepped up and donated the funds necessary to secure the domain name for their new Web site, www.gluefactory.org, with construction expected to begin soon.

The show must go on!

In true theatrical style, the cast of “Honk, Jr.” continues to perform, despite the loss of their stage. Performances included a “free for family and friends” event in the library media center at the school Thursday evening, but not before taking the show on the road for a special recital at Gardner Academy that morning, just four days after the students were allowed back into class following a $4 million fire that destroyed much of their school—a fire that was also deliberately set. Two former students, both juveniles are now in custody.

“It's our way of telling those kids ‘welcome back’ as we assure the world we're still here!” says Dini.

Upcoming events include a winter concert in the Pioneer gym on Dec. 16, presented by the Pioneer band and choir, as well as an updated informational meeting in the Pioneer library media center for Glue Factory members and interested friends of Pioneer on Dec. 18.

Also on the 18th, The KEZT Morning Show on 106.5 will be holding a live broadcast at the school from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. with entertainment, refreshments and giveaways—all in an effort to encourage listeners to stop by the school and help raise money for its rebuilding fund by making a donation.

“Thanks again for all your love and support,” says Dini. “This has been quite a week.”

Donations to help rebuild the Performing Arts Center should be sent to San Jose Educational Foundation, 855 Lenzen Ave., San Jose, CA 95126. Put “Pioneer Fund” on the memo line.